Old Business:
ORDINANCE 2010-117
ORDINANCE RE-DECLARING THE CITY OF MARION’S SUPPORT FOR CAN DO! IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER MARION AREA
Mr. Ratliff is asking for a second reading this evening. ORDINANCE 2010-117 HAS HAD ITS’ SECOND READING.
Mrs. Donna Hinkle, 1047 Bermuda Circle, spoke on 2010-117.

ORDINANCE 2010-118
ORDINANCE RE-DECLARING THE CITY OF MARION’S SUPPORT FOR THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY’S EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN AREA
Mr. Ratliff asked for a first a second this evening. ORDINANCE 2010-118 HAS HAD ITS’ SECOND READING.
Mrs. Donna Hinkle, 1047 Bermuda Circle, spoke on 2010-118.

ORDINANCE 2010-119
ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF NOTES IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $1.1 MILLION IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS, TO PAY COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE AQUATIC CENTER TOGETHER WITH ALL NECESSARY APPURTENANCES THERETO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Mr. Cumston noted that this came out of Municipal Services with a 3-0 recommendation for approval, we are asking for a 2nd reading today.
Mrs. Hinkle spoke on this. Wants this to become a success. ORDINANCE 2010-119 HAS HAD ITS’ SECOND READING.

ORDINANCE 2011-1
ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF MARION, STATE OF OHIO, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2011
Mr. Cumston noted that this came out of Finance with a 2-0 recommendation for approval. Attached are your 2011 budget worksheets. Motion to suspend, Mrs. Blevins seconding. Roll call: YEAS: Mr. Cumston, Mr. Ratliff, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Blevins, Mrs. Masters, Dr. Gilsdorf, Mrs. Gustin, Mr. Schaber; NAYS: None. I make the motion to adopt, Mrs. Blevins seconding.
Mr. Ratliff went on to say that he received lots calls on this. I want to applaud all the seniors. The budget is funding the Senior Center without cutting any monies. Dr. Gilsdorf stated that he thought he had to cut 100,000 out of the Senior Center budget, so the County would step up and pay their fair share. There are no cuts, I spoke with Sue Wisebaker, stating she does a wonderful job, it is a great asset, and there will be no cuts. I asked her to pass the word. There was never going to be any cuts. They couldn’t be sending checks back and forth across the street. They already are, all I wanted to do is for them to add a few more zeros. They aren’t helping. I was not the bad guy, I was not out to cut out the senior center, its called politics. It’s not going to close, I’m very sorry that all of you are upset and you had to come out.
Mr. Cumston said that the 2011 budget process, as we move forward into the year, we are still looking at anticipated state budget cuts. We’ve done a good job of putting money away. This year we will use some of our reserves to carry us through. We always wanted to be at 2 million. We will fall below like last year @ 1.8. We’re looking at 1.5 – 1.6. Thank you for coming today, we’ll get through this year.
Mr. Thomas said we used 140,000 of carryover to balance this budget, we still have tax collecting coming in to cover that. The Finance Committee has done a tremendous job in the last couple of years, and hopefully we’ll do away with the 140,000, and not do deficit spending. Mr. Thomas asked Dr. Gilsdorf to be careful on whom he plays politics with. Some people don’t understand how politics work. I understand what you were saying, these people don’t understand it, and I applaud them for coming in today to protect their Senior Center. They rely heavily on the transportation and other things the senior center provides for this community.
Mr. Ratliff stated that he encourages everyone here tonight to call the County Commissioners and ask them to help out. We pony up 99% of the money, where as 66% of the people out there are City residents. I have a place in my heart for Senior activities. Call all three County Commissioners, the City is doing their part, the County has to do theirs as well. Money is getting tighter and tighter. The new governorship when they take over, may cut the funding, we may be here again in 2 or 3 months.
Mrs. Sue Wisebaker, said that all dept’s were asked to take cuts, we are willing to do our part. We have taken a 29% cut at the Senior Center. The only money that we have, is salaries, benefits, land and building maintenance, 37,000 in utilities. She stated no money for various items. I think we have given our fair share, if we take another cut, we will have to close, and if we close we won’t get our Federal, State and Levy funding according to the ORC. It must be open 5 days a week, and a minimum of 40 hours per week, and 2 full time employees. 200 people receive food boxes, social and recreational part that these folks come out and socialize. We can’t take that away from them, I’ve worked there for 23 years. From a dump to what it is today – it’s beautiful. Come out and see what we have, and see our programs. There are about 100 folks a day through the center. I thank you all for keeping the Senior Center Open. We can run the center @ bare bones. That van program is on donations only. Nearly 20,000 people have come to the center this year.
Judith Smidt, 160 Johnson St. – we want you to do your job, we don’t want you to play your job.
Ralph Hill spoke about people being hired w/o Council’s approval.
Mayor Schertzer said there are some appointments have to be approved by Council, some don’t have to go to Council. There is a little of both. Department heads have retired and moved on, I’ve appointed persons within to take over those departments.
Steven Salisbury, 314 Chestnut spoke about the Senior Center.
Pastor Thomas spoke about the Senior Center.
Mrs. Hinkle spoke about the cut @ the Senior Center; she feels Dr. Gilsdorf did the right thing.
Joyce Pennington, 277 Kensington, spoke on the Senior Center, people are living longer. We are all going to be there. Treat the elderly better.
Dave Troutman, give some assurance to the revenue stream, how realistic is it? Last year we ran into some surprises in the last quarter. Put together once a month in the paper the financial concerns.
Auditor Carr said she is not comfortable in the revenue stream. The projections, as we all know, there is no participation in year end.
Mr. Hill mentioned again about the appointments for the Police Dept. for Grants. It’s wrong what you did with Major McDonald.
Mayor Schertzer said there is a clear distinction between an employee and an appointed position.
Steve Rinnick, 264 Madison Ave spoke on the Senior Center, we teach Tai Chi.
Carol Eddington, Brownstone Terrace – Senior Center is God’s gift to me. I’m not here to play politics.
Judy Walker, County resident – is a member and I do a lot of volunteer work out there. It is a lifeline for me.
Beth Martin, County resident – I will try to contact the County representatives on this matter.
Martha Douce, 277 Bellefontaine spoke on how well the Senior Center provides to the community.
Joyce Earl – 3032 Likens Rd, thank you for the Senior Center to continue.
Jackie Cumby, 314 Chestnut St. rides to doctors with the Senior Center, the seniors need something to do.
Rosemary Waddell, 314 Chestnut St. – they do a lot for Marion.
Elaine – County should pay their share. Dr. Gilsdorf – you set up a meeting and we will be there.
Luis Hughes, 389 Uhler Ave, worked at the Center for 30 years as a driver. We thank you and I hope the senior center goes on forever.
Doris Shoewalter, Crescent Hghts Rd. I’m grateful for the decision that the center will not close.
Mrs. Wisebaker said I could not get on the phone and call over 1,000 members. I told the people that were there.
Judy Renfew, County resident and board member. Please understand, it was not for nothing, which you came here for was important. What you’re fighting for today, is what is going forward. The fights not over, it has only just begun.
Ralph Hill, Council can’t touch your budget, it’s a tax thing. I voted on this. They can’t take the monies from you.
Mr. Cumston said this is just concerning General Fund money.
Mrs. Wisebaker said we did vote on senior citizens – council on aging. We have to apply for funds, for a portion of that money. We receive 32,000 for transportation, and 13,000 for shopping. The City does contribute 300,000 of that money. We are talking about General Fund money. I have received cuts from the Federal and State already. We don’t know what’s coming down the pike. We’ll deal with that then. That .8 mill council on – does not fund the Senior Center, just a very small portion.
Mrs. Gustin spoke about the Downtown Funding. Mr. Cumston said the DT funding is in the budget as well; also the budget acceptance, most of the time, we have always done in the past on January 1.
The roll call was taken for adoption: YEAS: Mr. Cumston, Mr. Ratliff, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Blevins, Mrs. Masters, Dr. Gilsdorf, Mrs. Gustin, Mr. Schaber; NAYS: None. BUDGET ORDINANCE 2011-1 IS ADOPTED

With no further business to come before council, President Edwards adjourned the meeting.